Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers - Old Love
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The song "Old Love" (which is based on the Japanese folktale, "The Chrysanthemum Pledge") is a story about two Samurai of opposing factions who fall in love. They meet amidst the aftermath of a terrible battle - and in a moment of acknowledgement of the futility of war, they set aside their swords to care for each other... A deep love blooms between them over the coming weeks, but soon they are pulled by the yoke of war. The Samurai make a pledge to return to each other, once the war is finished, and once the chrysanthemums have bloomed. Unfortunately, they are unable to uphold their vows by the time of the blooming, so both, in the throbbing, festering anguish of impossible love, commit harikari. The song is mostly centered around the anguish and eventual suicide of one of the said samurai. However, upon his soul's arrival into heaven, he is greeted by the warm embrace of his lover, who marched into a similar fate. A pledge upheld and true love requited.
What I really wanted to capture in the song - and I'm not sure of the best way to put this - is that there is beauty in tragedy and violence. Their love is forbidden, but sincere, sensitive, and beautiful. Sounds kinda silly to say it like that, but it's what I was feeling when I wrote the song. I felt very connected to these characters and as a fan of Japanese literature, I really wanted to do the beautiful source material justice.
I was introduced to the director, Paul Zito, of Portland, through a mutual friend and instantly fell in love with his work. He immediately seemed to connect with the story when I pitched it to him and cannot overstate how much I appreciated the level of respect and sensitivity he gave to the source material. I should also mention that he made something like 10,000-15,000 paper cut outs and spent like 4 months on the project. The man is an exceptionally talented animation machine - and also just an all around awesome dude. The song by itself only tells so much, but Paul's creative vision turned it into a fully realized piece of work. I am super thankful to have been able to work with him.
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--LYRICS--
we met on the battlefield
drank from the ladle by the moon
the blood expanded cross the field
like chrysanthemums in bloom
is there really so much to fear
when we’re all just taking sides
work it out, seek it out,
work it out, uh oh
a promise is a promise
will you finish what you started
i was born to believe, that the change of leaves
could really mean anything, love
i’d cross the mountains and the ocean for ya
just to see ya
i need that old love
and i’m swimming in the dark
i need that cold love
and i'm frozen from the start
i strained my eyes to see
but it was too dark inside and out
how i long to hear you breath
how i long to hear you sound
i so wish to understand
these pangs of solitude
maybe my sword will be peace
will it place me next to you
a promise is a promise
will you finish what you started
i was born to believe, that the change of leaves
could really mean anything, love
i’d cross the mountains and the ocean for ya
just to see you
i need that old love
and i’m swimming in the dark
i need that cold love
and i'm frozen from the start
oh i fear what i have become
lord will they forgive me
all i got left is love
lord with they forget me
i’ll go to the forest with a samurai sword
and I'll spill out all of my love
i strained my eyes to see
but it was too dark inside and out
how i long to hear you breath
how i long to hear you sound
i so wish to understand
these pangs of solitude
maybe my sword will bring me peace
will it place me next to you
small rose blooms turned in the water
as my body fell to the side, but i fell deeper
into the silt of your love, silently waiting
for your infinite embrace, and there i floated
with your arms around me, closing on the distance
eternity is in us now that you're by my side
each sensation is a memory from our lives?
---
Directed and Animated by Paul Zito (paulthomaszito.com)
Written by Joe Hertler and Paul Zito
Produced by Matt Burek and Paul Zito
Digital backgrounds and concept art by Jonathan Zito
Stop-motion fabrication by Paul Zito, assisted by Matt Burek
Pre-production consultation by Jordan Serra